Photo by Mark M. Murray / The RepublicanMark Melendez, of Springfield, is seen in Springfield District Court Friday as he was arraigned on charges of shooting Kevin Gomez, of Chicopee.

SPRINGFIELD - Mark Melendez was ordered held without right to bail Friday after pleading innocent to murder in this past weekend's shooting death of 16-year-old Chicopee teen Kevin Gomez.

Melendez, 19, of 264 Fountain St., pleaded innocent to murder and firearms charges in front of Springfield District Court Judge William J. Boyle.

After the arraignment Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni said Melendez is alleged to have brought the gun used in the scene of the fatal shooting.

On Tuesday, 17-year-old Gregory Falero of 157 Jardine St., was arrested and charged with murder. Mastroianni said Falero is alleged to be the shooter of Gomez.

Melendez was taken into custody at police headquarters Thursday, where he had been brought in for questioning.

Gomez was shot early Sunday morning in front of 729 Belmont Ave. as he was attending a private birthday party nearby.

Falero pleaded innocent Wednesday in District Court and was ordered held without right to bail by Judge Elizabeth Sanabria-Vega. Daniel M. Kelly was appointed to represent Falero, who was arraigned with the aid of a Spanish interpreter.

Boyle denied a motion by Melendez' defense lawyer William J. O'Neil to prohibit filming and photographing at Melendez' arraignment. O'Neil said he was concerned about retribution by other people held at the Hampden County Correctional Center at Stony Brook in Ludlow.

Mastroianni did not agree with O'Neil's request to bar photos and video, saying the jail has precautions for murder suspects to protect them.

Mastroianni since taking office in January has opposed releasing photographs of some murder suspects, in cases where he contends the resulting publicity during the investigation could hamper the ability of detectives to obtain identifications that could be used in the prosecution.

At Falero's arraignment, Mastroianni filed a motion in District Court to keep cameras out of the courtroom. The motion was accepted by the judge.

He asked that the prohibition of cameras end March 23, when Falero will be brought back into court for a bail hearing.

Mastroianni said since the role of Falero is alleged to be the shooter, police are still interviewing people and getting more identifications of him, so his picture is not being released until the court appearance March 23.

Mastroianni said there was a fight at the party that did not involve Gomez. He said after the fight broke up people were dispersing and Falero is alleged to have shot into a group of people leaving.

He said there is no evidence to indicate one way or another who the intended target was, but "we are not ruling out" that Gomez was shot randomly.